Fisheries and Oceans Canada says a dead seal found earlier this week on East Beach in White Rock may have been shot to death.
“It was a dead harbour seal with blood coming from its nose and mouth, and had a plastic bag wrapped around its neck,” said Pacific Marine Mammal Co-ordinator Paul Cottrell.
“We identified that there is a possible bullet wound in the back of the head as well.”
Cottrell said if the bullet is still in the animal, they’ll investigate and, if possible, work backwards from there.
The seal was found by a local resident.
“We’re going to do a necropsy and find out what exactly is going on with this animal, because there’s multiple things. We’ll also have fisheries officers involved if it was a shooting, to see what we can do.”
Cottrell says it’s illegal to shoot harbour seals and sea lions unless you’re authorized through a licence.
He adds in rare circumstances some First Nations food ceremonies will require one, but those are rare and he’s pretty sure that’s not the case in this instance.